The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-09-01
Che Farmers at Atlanta.

All accounts agree that the South.
ern Farmers Convention at Atlanta
last week was a great success. The
body was composed of representative
Southern farmers, North Carolina be.
ing ably and fully rearesented IN the
person of some of its most successful
and progressive planters. Col. l.. L.
Polk, of Raleigh, editor OF the Pro
gressice Farmer, was made President
of the Convention. This was an hon
or to North Carolina which all of the
Chronicles readers will appreciate. 1t
was likewise a great compliment to
Col. Polk and a recognition OF the
earnest labor he is performing and
has performed in promoting the or
ganization of the farmers. Upon tax
ing the chair Col. Polk said:
"MR. president AND GENTLE
MEN OF THE CONVENTION am
ordinarily abe to express my views
and my feelings but | must say to
you frankly that l have not adequate
language to express my most grateful
appreciation of the distinguished hon
or you have conferred upon me
through your very kind partiality.
You have elected me president OF
this association, l presume, for ME
to lend my best efforts, and my most
earnest endeavor to promoting the
great and grand objects which we
have in view.
/ can only say to you-tor L wish
to proceed with business can only
say to you that | can best show my
appreciation of the honor which you
have conferred upon me by giving to
you my undivided, and my whole
hearts best effort to build up the
grand interest of this dear and below
ed southland so far as this convention
may do so. | thank you, gentlemen.
| thank you with q full heart for the
honor you have done me" Applause.
Senator Colquitt, Gev. Gordon, and
Editor Grady made elegant speeches,
as did many others, among whom was
Col. w. H. S. Burgwyn. DIR. d. Reid
Parker, and Messrs. Julian Allen and
G.. Mcdonald, of North Carolina.
Col. VIM. H. S. Burgwyn, of Hender-
sen, was chosen to reply to the address
Of welcome-and he reflected honor
upon his State by his eloquent speech.
1t seems that North Carolina car
ried off the honors of the Convention,
and that delegates from our State
were the most popular and prominent
members of the body. 1t was decided
to hold the next convention at Raj
eigh. The Chronicle assures them a
hearty welcome. We have it also
from gentleman who was present
that from reports from all the cotton
States, the condition of the North
Carolina farmers and the crop pros
poets are better than in any State rep
resented in the Convention. In his
great speech Senator Colquitt told the
farmers that the chief cause of their
hard fortune resulted from the fact
that the government doesn't give
them fair chance. 1t compels them
to buy at the dearest and sell in the
cheapest market. He asked this ques-
ton: "Why should the man who buys
cotton be ward of the government,
while the man who raises it should be
the governments outcast?"
IT the farmers Of this country
would organize and demand yearly
reduction of the tariff down to the
revenue basis, they could secure it be-
fore many years And then they would
witness better times. The only reason
the Protective tariff has not long ago
been repealed is because the farmers
would not organize to secure it. Pro-
tectionists are organized to keep up
the systematic robbery under the forna
OF law: why should not farmers, me-
chanics and everybody else organize
to fipht them